Cattle agents are showing greater appetite for finished animals this week as supplies continue to tighten.

With plants still looking to secure numbers for next week, reports indicate that cattle agents are being much more active in approaching farmers for stock.

Prime cattle, and heifers in particular, are a much sharper trade and there are signs of further price increases to come, as processing plants seek to secure numbers in the runup to Christmas.

While some plants have increased base quotes by 2p/kg, the reality is that farmers with in-spec animals are in a strong position to negotiate for higher prices.

Most plants are quoting a base of 320p to 322p/kg for U-3 grading animals. However, there is an increasing number of farmers reporting a wide range of price deals being offered well above base quotes.

Farmers offloading in-spec heifers have repeatedly indicated that 330p/kg is widely available, with 332p to 334p/kg on offer to finishers that have additional animals to come on to the market in the coming weeks.

At the top end of the market, there were isolated reports of 340p/kg being paid for top-quality butcher-type heifers.

In contrast, prices on steers have been slower to rise, with plants looking to keep a lid on the trade as much as possible.

However, farmers with a steady supply to offer, or have heifers to kill along with steers, report deals being made at 326p to 328p/kg. That said, there are still reports of steers moving at 320p/kg.

Last week, the average price paid on steers and heifers fell by 0.6p to 317.05p/kg, with U3 steers averaging 322.5p/kg, down 0.8p/kg on the week.

However, U3 heifers rose by 2.6p/kg to an average 331.1p/kg.

Cows

While base quotes on cows are steady, there is more bite to the trade.

Quotes on R3 cows remains on 260p, with 255p/kg on O+3 animals.

Lamb trade

The lamb trade has strengthened this week, with factory quotes rising 15p to 360p/kg. This makes a lamb worth £75.60 at the 21kg deadweight limit.

In the marts, there has been a drop in the availability of lambs and, as such, prices have increased.

In Kilrea, 280 lambs sold from 311p to 334p/kg, up 4p/kg on heavier lambs.

Massereene had a show of 776 lambs, selling from 310p to 333p/kg, up by 5p/kg.

In Saintfield, 454 lambs made from 310p to 391p/kg, up 10p/kg on last week.

Rathfriland had a show of 518 lambs, with a sharper trade. Lambs sold from 304p to 388p/kg, averaging 328p/kg, up 8p/kg on last week. Heavy lambs at 26kg made £80. Lambs at 24kg made £87, with 22kg making £76.

Ewes

After lower prices last week, the fat ewe trade has improved, with higher top prices in the marts. The top price in Omagh was £88, while Swatragh sold ewes to £120 for a smaller show of 153 head. In Massereene, the top price was £97 and in Saintfield, it was £90. Rathfriland sold to a top of £79/head.

In Ballymena, store lambs were also a sharper trade. The best Texels sold to £70.50. Charollais sold to £69.50 and Suffolks made £67/head. The pattern was similar in Rathfriland, with 19kg stores making over £70/head.

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